Card exhibiting device



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CARD EXHIBITING DEVICE Filed April 14, 1930 v /N VE N 70/?5 I ROBERT D. HUGHES EDGAR 1M l/Al-IZE.

ATTORNEK Patented July 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATEN'U OFFICE.

CARD EXHIBITING DEVICE tion of New York Application April 14, 1930, Serial N0. 444,261

6 Claims.

This invention relates to card exhibiting devices and it is designed more particularly as a price sign for use at automobile service stations and in like places. Many forms of devices have been proposed for the purpose of displacing price signs but, for the most part at least, these devices have been open to more or less serious objection. One of the most common objections is the difficulty or inconvenience of changing the sign cards when the price changes. In many devices of this kind it is necessary to remove the entire sign from its supporting structure or to remove and handle a plurality of separate parts in order to change the cards. Inasmuch as these signs are usually mounted in elevated positions where it is necessary to stand on a ladder in order to have access thereto the handling of a plurality of parts is inconvenient and seriously objectionable. Further, many of these devices are adapted to exhibit a card of a single size only, thereby materially restricting the utility of the device.

One object of the present invention is to provide a strong simple displaying device of such a character that the cards can be quickly and easily 5 changed.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the card supporting frame may be removed as a unit from the outer casing Without removing or displacing any other parts of the structure, thus permitting the card supporting frame to be removed and carried into the service station house or other convenient place for changing the cards.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which cards of different sizes may be utilized.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the device is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. l is a front elevation of a price sign embodying our inven-- tion; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of such a sign partially in section; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a fractional detail view showing the inner frame partially removed from the outer frame; Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the partitions; Fig. 7 is a detail view of portions of the top members of the inner frame showing the means for supporting one end of the partition; and Fig. 8 is a detail'view of a portion of the bottom member of the inner frame showing the means for supporting the lower end of the partition.

In this drawing we have illustrated one embodiment of our invention and have shown the same as applied to a price sign intended primarily for the purpose of displaying the price of gasoline and of certain other data connected therewith. It will be understood, however, that this particular embodiment has been chosen for the purpose of illustration only, that the device may take various forms and may be used for various purposes without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In that form here shown the device comprises an outer casing which is preferably rectangular in form and has in both side walls thereof relatively large openings which are closed by transparent panels. Preferably the outer casing comprises a channel-shaped bottom member 10, channel shaped end members 11 and fiat bars 12 connecting the upper ends of the two end members, at the respective sides of the casing. This results in a construction in which the upper end of the casing is open and unobstructed. The bottom end and top members of the casing are arranged in such relation as to provide a large rectangular opening in each side wall of the casing. It will be understood, of course, that the device may be of such a character as to display the price cards on both sides thereof or on a single side thereof. If the card is to be displayed on one side only then the casing will be so constructed as to provide an opening in one side only thereof. Mounted within the casing are transparent panels 13, such as panes of glass, which close the openings in the side walls of the casing. These panels are so mounted that they form permanent parts of the casing and remain in their normal positionsat all times regardless of the removal of the inner casing as will be hereinafter described. In the present construction the transparent panels engage the inwardly extending flanges of the several channel shaped members and the top bars, at the respective sides of the casing and are held in engagement therewith by spacer strips 14 secured to the respective end walls and having inwardly extending intermediate portions 15 which are arranged between and overlap the two transparentpanels and thus retain the same in contact with the respective flanges. The transparent panels may be removed upwardly for the purpose of cleaning, or replacing a broken panel, but in the ordinary use of the device they remain in fixed positions with relation to the easing. The casing may be supported in any suitable manner, and, in the present instance, a bracket 16 is rigidly secured to one end of the casing and is adapted to be mounted on a suitpermitting it to be removed when it is desired. to

change the cards. In the present construction, this inner frame also comprises a channel-shaped bottom member 17 and upright'channel-shaped end members 18 which are connected at "their upper ends by bars 19. Preferably these top bars are provided with outwardly extending flanges 20 which overhang the upper edges of the transparent panels 13 of the outer casing. Eachside wall of-the inner frame has an open ing. corresponding substantially in size and shape to the. openings inthe side walls .of the outer casing and is provided with means for supporting the cards thereon. In the present device, there will be two cards displayed and these cards will be supported. against the flanges of the several members of the inner frame but preferably the frame is of such a width thatspace willbe provided between the cards which are on display to receive and store other cards which may from time to time be substituted for the cards on display. These additional cards serve as a spacing device to hold the cards on display firmly in their display positions-but it will be obvious that if preferred any other suitable form of spacer may be employed for this purpose.

The device is provided with means whereby the price or other data to be displayed may be carried by a single card occupying the full space of each. display opening or it may be carried by several cards separately supported and all arranged in linewiththe display opening. For this purpose we have provided removable means for dividing the inner frame into a plurality of card receiving compartments. Preferably this means is in the form of vertical partitions 21 removably supported between the upper and lower members of'the inner frame. In the present instance, the bottom member 17 of the inner frame is provided with a plurality of openings 22 and the bottom of the partition has a depending portion 23 adapted to enter one..of these openings. The top bars 19 of the inner frame are provided, above each opening 22, with recesses 24 to receive the upper edge of the partition. The members 17 and 19 have sufiicient resiliency to permit the partition to be sprung into recesses-24 and: when seated therein it will be held firmly against movement. Any suitable number of partitions may be employed, in the present instance we have shown 3, and the openings 22 and recesses 24 may be provided in such number and in such positions as topermit the inner frame .tobe divided into compartments of the desired number and size. -Each partitionis provided with means cooperating with the adjacent parts of the inner frame members to support the-cards therein and preferably it has on each side thereof a pair of laterally extending flanges 25 which cooperate with the flanges of the end and bottom members of theinner frame. In thepresent construction, each partition is formed of-two channels arranged "back to back andrigidly connected'one to theother. This constructionnpermitsthe-data to be displayed to be divided among two or more cards and each of these cards is independently supported and may be removed or changed independently of the other cards.

The outer casing is provided with a suitable closure for the open upper end thereof which will render. the casing weatherproof and, in the present instance, this closure is of such a character and is somounted that it also serves as a handle .by means of which the inner casing may be removed and carried from place to place. As here shown, the closure is in the form of a cap 26 shaped to fit snugly over the top of the outer casing and is mounted on the inner casing. To thisend it is provided with two arms 2'7 which are pivotally mounted on the respective ends of the inner frame. Preferably the arms are slotted, as shown at 28, to receive pivot studs 29 on the ends of the inner frame.

When the inner frame is moved to its innermost position the closure will bemovedto a position directly above the same and the arms 27 will, of course, be arranged within the outer'casing, thus permitting the-cap to engage over and close the outer casing. By slotting the arms 28 the cap may be elevated with relation to the inner frame sufiiciently to permit it to be swung about the studs 29 and to clear the upper end of the inner frame. It willbe' apparent that by grasping the cap 26 and lifting the same both the cap and the inner frame maybe removedas a unit. The cards being firmly supported in the inner frame will not be displaced; and the frame may be carried to a suitable point for removing and replacing the cards. This permits the inner casing and closure to be removed by one hand of the operator, which is especially desirable when the operator is required to stand on a ladder or the like, and inasmuch as all the removable parts are connected together and'removable as a unit there are no loose parts to be handled or laid down.

While we-have shown and described one em bodiment of our invention we wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a cardexhibiting device comprising an outer casing having a transparent panel in the side wall thereof, having one end open, a card supporting frame removably mounted in said outer casing and. having a bottom member providediwith an opening, and a top member provided with a recess, a partition having at its lower end a part. to enter the opening in said bottom member and having its upper edge adapted to be sprung into the recess in said top member, said partition having on each side thereof a pair of laterally extending flanges.

2. In a cardexhibiting device comprising an outer casing having a transparent panel in the side wall thereof and having one end open,'a card supporting frameremovably mounted in said outer casing and having top and bottom members and end members, arranged to form an opening in the side thereof, a partition removably supported by said top and bottom members, intersecting said opening to divide said frame into a plurality of compartments and having parts cooperating with the adjacent parts of said inner frame to support separate cards in the respective compartments, and a closure for the open end of said outer-casinghaving arms pivotally and slidably mounted on the respective ends of said inner frame.

3. In a price sign, an outer casing having bottom and end walls each provided with relatively narrow inwardly extending flanges to form openings in the respective side walls of said casing, bars connecting the flanges of said end members at the tops thereof and spaced apart to provide said casing with an open top, transparent panels supported within said casing to close the openings in the respective side walls thereof, means for holding said panels in engagement with said flanges, an inner frame supported between said panels and removable through the open top of said casing, said inner frame having spaced side walls provided with openings in line with said panels, having an open top and having means for removably supporting price cards therein adjacent to but out of contact with said panels, and a cap pivotally connected with said inner frame for movement into and out of line with the open top thereof and adapted to fit snugly about the top of said outer casing when said inner frame is in its operative position in said outer casing.

4. In a price sign, an outer casing having transparent panels in the side Walls thereof and having its upper end open, an inner frame supported in said outer casing for withdrawal through the open upper end thereof and having channelshaped bottom and end members, and bars connecting the upper ends of said end members and spaced apart throughout their length to provide said inner frame with an open top, said channelshaped members forming guides to support price cards in line with but out of contact with said panels, and a cap to close the upper ends of said outer casing and said inner frame and connected with said inner frame to form a handle for withdrawing the samaf rom said outer casing.

5. In a price sign, an outer casing having transparent panels in the side walls thereof and having its upper end open, an inner frame supported in said outer casing for withdrawal through the open upper end thereof and having channelshaped bottom and end members, bars connecting the upper ends of said end members, spaced apart throughout their length to provide said inner frame with an open top, and having outwardly extending flanges overhanging the respective panels, said channel-shaped members forming guides to support price cards in line with but out of contact with said panels, and a cap to close the upper ends of said outer casing and said inner frame and connected with said inner frame to form a handle for withdrawing the same from said outer casing.

6. In a card exhibiting device comprising an outer casing having a transparent panel in the side wall thereof and having one edge open, a card supporting frame mounted in said outer casing and removable through the open edge thereof, and a vertical partition supported on said inner frame to divide the same into a plurality of compartments and comprising two oppositely facing channel-shaped members rigidly connected one to the other, said partition and said frame having interlocking parts to removably support said partition in a fixed position with relation to said frame.

ROBERT D. HUGHES. EDGAR W. VAI-ILE. 

